Our First Trip as Parents! December 2012 TR - 8/6 OMG a TR link!

[dizneeat]

from Austria! I think this is a very beautiful tribute to your dad!

Am all caught up again and loved every bit of trip report I missed.

 

[disneybarbie]

hope your are ok today Lesha x

 

[franandaj]

What a nice tribute to your dad. So sad that he was so young. He was a very handsome man. Your DS is going to be one heck of a catch foe the ladies!

 

[Pinkocto]

Not morbid at all. It's important to cherish his memory. I can't imagine losing your dad so early

 

[My sister's princess]

I lost my stepdad a few years ago, I'm sorry about your dad. I don't think those photos are weird at all, we each grieve and cope in our own way

 

[Dream426]

What great pictures and memories you have. I don't think it is morbid at all that you took pictures of your DS by the headstone. I do have to disagree though that it is the only thing your DS has of his grandfather. He will also have the pictures and memories you share with him. My daughter knows her grandfather (my father) by pictures. She calls him pop and knows who he is. We started showing his picture to her from day one. I do believe they are able to see them also. Lots of hugs for you.

 

[Dugette]

I'm behind on your report, but popped in today and saw your update about your dad. Just wanted to say that I think it's nice that you're using that day to celebrate and remember him. I'm sure that Calvin will know him in his own way. That's so sad that you lost him so early and suddenly. My uncle suddenly passed recently at 56 years old, so I can relate a little bit (though not the same thing).

Oh, one of my co-workers had told me that her family always told her that when babies are smiling/laughing/babbling at "nothing", it's because angels are playing with them. I thought that was really sweet and picture my grandparents playing with Dug Baby. Maybe that could be something to smile on with Calvin and your dad too.

 

[Leshaface]

Wow thank you all so much for the nice and thoughtful comments you left me It was so nice to get back on and see everyones replies, so thanks again!

And now back to my TR!

 

[Leshaface]

After the Great Movie Ride, I needed to go feed DS so I told DM and DH that I was going to go to the Baby Care Center located near the front of the park and they were going to go off to see the Indiana Jones Stunt Show. Humph! This was my third trip to DHS and I still havent seen that show!

This was my first time using a Baby Care Center, and Im not sure why, but I was nervous! I didnt know what to expect I think. Its over near the First Aid center and you have to ask a CM to let you into the room. I had read that you had to leave strollers outside the building but she let me in with the stroller, which was awesome. There was no one in there so I had the entire place to myself for a while. It was actually really nice and quiet inside. When you enter, there is a main area with a tv, a bench and some chairs.

Off to the left are two dressing rooms that are closed off each by a curtain and in each room is an outlet (for moms that pump), a rocking chair and a table.

And on the other side of the main room is another room, with a large changing table with disposable pads to change your baby on, along with a large sink, a microwave, and a bathroom for little ones.

It was really relaxing and quiet. There was another family that had come in, the mom used the other nursing room and the dad stayed with another young child watching TV in the main room. Everyone stayed quiet which was great. I was there for maybe 25 minutes and texted DH to see where they were. They were grabbing a beer at the Tune In Lounge. I strapped DS into his stroller and made my way over there. They were sitting on a couch, DM having a Miller Lite and DH a Yuengling, watching TV.

It was pretty busy in there!

It was 2:45 and we had planned on leaving the park by 4pm to be back at the resort to change for our dinner that night. Once they were done with their beers, we headed over to check out the FP situation for ToT. The wait was only 10 minutes so I got a Rider Swap card and waited in the gift shop area while DH and DM rode.

Okay I need to back up for one sec. Today was supposed to be the start of our FP+, but since we got such a late start this morning, all our times were off. And it wasnt until later that I realized I could get online with my phone to change ride times around if need be. So we didnt use FP+ this day, but we would the next time.

Alright so maybe you guys can figure this out. I even asked this question on the Theme Park Boards but got no answer. As I was waiting inside the gift shop of ToT, there was an extremely strange Character/CM in there. She wore a pink dress, had pigtails and was holding a drum and hitting it. She acted as if she was a little girl in a grown womans body and was acting a little crazy. But she was literally the most funniest character Ive ever seen. For instance, there were some guests that went up to take a picture with her and when the photographer said, Say Cheese!, this character said, Cheeeeese! and then started singing the word and made a beat on her drum to it and continued to sing it even after the guests got their picture and left! She kept saying it over and over for at least 3 minutes. I thought it was hilarious however other guests that were waiting for their parties looked annoyed. Does anyone know who this is?! Im kicking myself for not getting a picture of it. Ive looked through tons of pictures on google, looked on the actors of DHS website, etc, etc! She was out for about 10 minutes and walked through one of the CM doors and never came back out. I did go up and ask one of the CMs working the Photograph counter who she was and all she said was that she was an actor and she was great. Wish I would have asked more questions, but thought she would be a popular character here on the DIS. Anyway, sorry to keep going on, but Im hoping someone here knows who Im talking about.

DH and DM got off and we went and grabbed their picture

DM loved this version better than DCAs version. She liked that there was more of a story to it and that you traveled through the ride.

Then it was my turn!

Was great as usual!

We had about 25 minutes left so we started walking through stores, where of course DM bought more things. I swear, this woman cant walk through a store without buying something.

It was exactly 4 when we were walking out of the park and headed towards the dock. We were NOT walking back to the resort after such a tiring morning, especially now that it was raining! The boat came immediately and I remembered that Emma (disneybarbie) had said it would be a little faster getting off at the Swan and Dolphin stop then walking to BWV so this is what we did. And Im glad we did. We definitely beat the boat back by walking. An awesome picture of the Boardwalk and a rainbow. You can see that it just rained and it looked like more may be coming.

The boat that we were on is no where in sight. Thanks for the tip Emma!

Now to get dressed and head to DHs absolute favorite restaurant: California Grill!

Forgot to mention, while trying to find the character on the internet, I came across a really cool//interesting Virtual Ride Simulator of the Tower of Terror! I actually played it for a bit and was able to see how the ride is conducted and handled. Here's the link if you want to check it out

http://www.towerofterror.org/media/vride.html

 

[disneybarbie]

Hi Lesha,

Glad you liked the little walk from Swan & Dolphin over to the Boardwalk!

Is that character you described one of the citizens of Hollywood? There is a list of them with photos on Studiocentral.com - link here


Emma x

 

[Pinkocto]

That CM sounds familiar but not at ToT. Perhaps I've seen her somewhere else. That quiet area sounds really nice. I had no idea they had places like that.

 

[wiigirl]

Love the rainbow pics

 

[franandaj]

That's great that you used one of those baby care centers.

I do have to agree that ToT at WDW is much better than ours. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Leshaface]

Hi Lesha,

Glad you liked the little walk from Swan & Dolphin over to the Boardwalk!

Is that character you described one of the citizens of Hollywood? There is a list of them with photos on Studiocentral.com - link here


Emma x

Ugh no! On the thread that I started on the Theme Park board, they had put the link up and she wasn't in there. It's really starting to bug me. I'm wondering if there is a number I can call to figure out who this woman is! It's driving me nuts!

That CM sounds familiar but not at ToT. Perhaps I've seen her somewhere else. That quiet area sounds really nice. I had no idea they had places like that.

The BCC was really nice and very quiet.

Love the rainbow pics

Thanks! It was a really pretty sight to see.

That's great that you used one of those baby care centers.

I do have to agree that ToT at WDW is much better than ours. Thanks for sharing.

Waaay better than ours. I like that it's 'ours' and not 'DCA'

 

[blabbermouth]

I love ToT! And rainbows! And drinks! Perfect update.

 

[Leshaface]

I love ToT! And rainbows! And drinks! Perfect update.

A perfect combo!

 

[franandaj]

Waaay better than ours. I like that it's 'ours' and not 'DCA'

I think that's one of the differences between WDW and DLR. At least I know in my circles, we feel that the park is "ours" and I'm not sure who "we" are, but it is sort of a Southern or all of Californian Collective. I bet even Jenny (rentayenta) who is on my TRs and grew up here and moved to Utah still feels like it is "her" park.

It's weird how DL still has the small town feel that Walt always wanted it to have. I'm not sure if or how many people feel that way about WDW. I know people call WDW their "home", but I'm not sure they feel the same "home" that those of us at DLR do. I know you know what I mean, but I'm not sure how many others do.

 

[afwdwfan]

I have no idea who that character is. I guess you need to go back and hang out around there sometime to do some research. Any excuse to go back is a good one!

Thanks for the link to the TOT thing. That will completely kill my productivity for the rest of the day.

 

[Leshaface]

I think that's one of the differences between WDW and DLR. At least I know in my circles, we feel that the park is "ours" and I'm not sure who "we" are, but it is sort of a Southern or all of Californian Collective. I bet even Jenny (rentayenta) who is on my TRs and grew up here and moved to Utah still feels like it is "her" park.

It's weird how DL still has the small town feel that Walt always wanted it to have. I'm not sure if or how many people feel that way about WDW. I know people call WDW their "home", but I'm not sure they feel the same "home" that those of us at DLR do. I know you know what I mean, but I'm not sure how many others do.

You're absolutely right and I couldn't have said it better! It is so weird that DL does have that small town feeling, even though there are thousands of people that have AP's.

As fun as WDW is, DL will always be 'my' place

I have no idea who that character is. I guess you need to go back and hang out around there sometime to do some research. Any excuse to go back is a good one!

Thanks for the link to the TOT thing. That will completely kill my productivity for the rest of the day.

I had about 30 minutes to spare before having lunch one day so I decided to check it out...40 minutes later i'm like, what happened?! Where did they time go?

It is a fun little game though that led me to this as well

http://www.themagical.nl/index.php/leaderboard/game/id-6-Big-Thunder-Mountain-Simulation

 

[afwdwfan]

I had about 30 minutes to spare before having lunch one day so I decided to check it out...40 minutes later i'm like, what happened?! Where did they time go?

It is a fun little game though that led me to this as well

http://www.themagical.nl/index.php/leaderboard/game/id-6-Big-Thunder-Mountain-Simulation

I don't know whether to say thank you, or whether I should be saying some not so nice things about you right now.